Belt-conveyer roll with lubrication system



June 24,1930. COGHLL 1,767,743

BELT CONVEYER ROLL WITH LUBRICATION SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1924 v fizz/92W v 19 v fames T 6%1551 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STA E TE O F nuns r. .coamn,

OF MISHAWAKA,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR r0 nonexileuurnc'runme' CORPORATION, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE v BELT-CONVEYER ROLL WITH LU B RICATION SYSTEM .Applicat'lon filed December 29, 1924. Serial No. 758,508.

Thisinvention relates to belt conveyer rolls with lubrication systems, and among other objects aims to provide an impr ved construction and arrangement whereby the rolls of a conveyer unit, thougflln individualport embodying the invention; and

-may be quite close together,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same.

The lubrication of'belt conve er-rolls'or idlers has always been attende with difficulties. Because of the relative inaccessi- 'bility of such rolls, their lubrication is apt to be neglected. until the bearings run dry and destructive wear of the belt, as well as of the rim of the roll, has resulted. According to, the invention, the rolls, which turn. on axles, have each an interior reservoir for lubricant, which is supplied through a conduit individual to the roll and leading from a readily accessible point outside the roll through said axle. The

construction and arrangement of the rolls and their lubricating equipment and roll supports are such that while the roll ends each roll, with its independent lubricating system, isquickl and easily removable without disturbing t 'e others.- p

It is to be understood that the illustrative form shown in the drawings is simply a preferred embodiment of the invention; and that in the following explanation of that specific form,the described details of structure and organization are merely exemplary. The part of the belt conveyer unit which is shown comprises a decking 5, a transversely extending angle bar 6 secured at its ends to the decking, and supporting standards or brackets 7 secured to the angle bar 6 and having seats at their upper ends for the shafts or axles 8 of the relativel inclined'conveyer rolls. As seen at the le hand side of Fig. 2, the ends of the-axles and their seats are so shaped as to interlock with each other, thereby preventing any movement of the axles whilethe rolls are in service. Theseats, however, open upwardly to ermit removal of each roll by merely lift1ngit.

Each roll of the conveyer unit includes an outer cylindrical shell 9, end members 10 fitted within and closing the ends of the shell, a tube 11 interposed between and sealed by the end 'members, bearings 12, herein tapered roller bearings, and bearingadjusting nuts end members. The tube 11 provides a lubricant reservoir open to the bearings but sealed by the nuts 13, shown as havin coaxial grooves 14 surrounding the ax e to collect grease and thereby form grease seals. To hold the bearings spaced apart, the axle may have annular shoulders 15. The bearings are properly positioned in relation to the roll and axle by the said shoulders 15 engaging the bearing cone rings and the nuts 13 bearing against the cup rings.

To permit pressure feed of lubricant, such as grease, into the bearings, the axle is bored to provide a' continuous conduit leading from the outside of the roll, past the'grease seal and into the lubricant chamber; and a rease introducing pipe extends outwardly rom the outer end of said bore and has means permitting the attachment thereto of a force feed filler. As shown, the axle is 13 screw-threaded within the I i at an acute angle to each other andforming as it were, around the grease seal a by-pass,

At the outer end of bore'lG,

and bearing.

i. e.', between the supported end of the axle and the end of the roll, a pipe 18'is screwed into the axle, and extends outwardly therefrom at an acute angle. When the roll end members are dished, as shown, ample space is provided for the pipe 18, while at the same time the ends of the rolls may almost touch, though without interference when it is desired to remove one of them. On' the pecially as the two bores are quite short and therefore are easy to drill. It will be noted that the lubricating system of each roll forms a part of a unitary construction, and

that the individual rolls can be lifted out from their respective supportin standards by movement at right angles to t eir respective axes, there being clearance between the roll extremities and the standards so that no tilting or canting of the rolls is necessary to disengage them from the standards.

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination a roll, an axle having a short projecting end for detachable engagement with a support, a bearing located inwardly of said axle endand mounted between said axle and said roll, means in the roll encasing said bearing, lubricant supply means located between said axle end and said bearing, and a duct in said axle leading therefrom to the interior of said bearinencasing means at the opposite side the bearing.

2. In combination a roll havin a concave end, an axle having a short pro ecting end, for detachable engagement with a support, a bearing located inwardly of said axle end and mounted between said axle and said roll, means in the, roll encasing said bearing, lubricant supply means located between said axle end and said bearing in the concavity of said roll end, and a duct in said axle leading therefrom to the interior of said bearing encasing means at the opposite side of said bearing. 3. In combination, a roll, an axle having a short projecting end for detachable engagement with a support, a bearing located inwardly of said axle end and mounted between said axle and said roll, means in the roll encasing said bearing, a lubricant tube attached to said axle between said axle end and bearingand projecting outwardly therefrom closely adjacent to the end of the roll, and a duct in said axle leadin from said tube to the interior of said bearlng encasing means at the {opposite side of the bearing.

4. In combination, a pair of rolls arranged end in end and having their axes relatively inillhid, a support mounted between said mils, an axle for each of said rolls, each of, said axles having a short projecting}enddetachably engaging said support, a bearing mounted on each of said axles spaced from the support-engaging end thereof and located between said axle and said roll, a lubricant tube located between said rolls and connected to one of said axles between said support and said bearing on said axle, and a duct in the axle leading therefrom to convey lubricant to said bearing. 7

5. In combination, a pair of rolls arranged end to end and having their axes relatively inclined, at least one of the adjacent roll ends being recessed, supporting means mounted between said rolls, an axlefor each of said rolls having a short projecting end detachably engaging said supporting means, lubricant supply means in the said recessed roll end between the supporting means and one of said bearings,

and a duct leading therefrom to convey lubricant to said bearing.

6. A conveyer roll embodying a head with a dished or recessed outer face and construc-' rece tacle in the case on the inner side of the aring.

7. In a structure of the class described comprising conveyer rolls arranged end to end on relatively inclined axes, a conveyer roll having recessed ends and inwardly set bearings and an axle terminating near the roll extremities, said axle provided at each end with means for detachable engagement close to but outside the roll ends with supporting standards, and having a grease introducing tube attached to the axle laterally thereof between one of the axle extremities and the adjacent roll bearing, there being provision including a conduit in the axle for conducting the introduced rease to the inner sides of the bearings, an the said introducing tube projecting clear of the s ace required for such standard and clear 0 the said roll and next roll and only a sufiicient distance to present the receiving end of the tube at a conveniently accessible point away from the roll ends.

8. A structure of the class described having, in combination, idler rolls arranged end to end on relativel inclined axes, said rolls having axles pro ecting only slightly beyond the roll extremities and havin inwardly set bearings on said axles; stan ards between which the rolls are arranged and from which they are removably supported ing, and a conduit in the axle through which said tube communicates with grease spaces at the inner sides of the bearings, said tube projecting between adjacent roll ends clear of the interposed standard to a conveniently accessible point.

9. A structure of the class described having, in combination, conveyer rolls arranged closely adjacent end to end, includin an intermediate roll and lateral rolls inc ined to the intermediate roll; the res ective rolls having axles and antifriction bearings to sustain radial load and end thrust mounted on said axles and on which-the rolls revolve,

' the axles having ducts an the rolls having reservoirs in communication therewith through which grease supplied through the ducts enters the hearings on their inner sides; there being grease seals at the outer sides of the bearings; and grease introducing tubes laterall connected with the roll axles at points a jacent but outside of roll bearings and communicating with the ducts of said axles, including a grease introducing pipe connected to the mtermediate roll axle and projecting laterally between adjacent rolls to a readily accessible point; whereby the bearings may be maintained efliciently lubricated and grease may be supplied to the bearings of the individual rolls while the rolls are running and without necessitating removal of an individual roll, and the rolls are individua ly removable with their respective lubricating systems.

10. A structure of the class described comprising, in combination, conveyer rolls arranged closely adjacent end to end with their axes relatively inclined one to another; the respective rolls having axles and antifriction bearings to sustain radial load and end thrust mounted on said axles and on which the rolls revolve, the said bearings being set inwardly from the roll ends and the axle ends projecting outside said bearincluding intermediate the gaps between adjacent-rolls and having closely adjacent seats in which the axle ends are for adjacent axle ends; said axles'having conduits for deliverin grease to the roll bearings, each conduit having a lateral inlet between a supported axle end and the adjacent bearing; and grease introducing tubes connected to said axles at said inlets and projecting laterally therefrom beside the adacent roll ends; whereby the several rolls have each a lubricating system unitary and removable therewith, which individual systems may'be supplied with grease while the rolls are in place as well as while they are removed.

- 11. A structure of the class described comprising, in combination, a series of conveyer rolls arranged end to end; said rolls containing antifriction bearings on which they revolve and axles on which said bearings are mounted; the bearings being set inwardly from the roll ends and the axle ends projecting outside said bearings; means supporting adjacent axle ends to hold the-rolls with their adjacent ends close to one another and to allow removal of individual rolls; said axles having conduits for delivering grease to the roll bearings, each conduit having a lateral inlet between a supported axle end and the adjacent bearing; and grease introducing tubes connected to said axles at said inlets and projecting laterally therefrombeside the adjacent roll ends; whereby the several rolls of the series have each a lubricating system unitary and removable therewith, which individual systems may be supplied with grease while the rolls are in place as well as while they are removed. 12. A structure of the class described having, in combination, conveyer rolls arranged end to end and relatively inclined one to another and closely spaced to provide narrow gaps between adjacent roll ends at the tops thereof; the respective rolls having axles and antifriction bearings to sustain radial load and endthrust mounted on said axles and on which the rolls revolve, the bearings being set inwardly from, the ends of the rolls and the axle ends being outside the bearings; means between adjacent rolls supporting adjacent axle ends in close proximity to hold said rolls closely adjacent;

and means for introducing lubricant to an intermediately situated roll bearing comprising a grease introducing pipe connected with a roll axle between its supported end and said bearing and projecting laterally be- ,tween adjacent roll ends, and a conduit in said axle communicating with said ipe and arranged to deliver the grease at th e inside of the bearing.

13. A structure of the class described having, in combination, conveyer rolls arranged closely adjacent end to end, including an intermediate roll to which other such rolls are relatively inclined; the respective rolls having axles and antifriction bearings to sustain radial load and end thrust'mountedt axles communicating with said tubes and on said axles,.on which bearings the rolls arranged to deliver the grease at the inside revolve; the said bearings being set inwardly of the bearings. from the rollends and the axle endsbeing In testimony whereof, I have signed my outside said bearings; means supporting the \name to this specification. axle ends so as to hold the rolls with their JAMES T. COGHILL. adjacent ends close to one another; said axles having grease conduits and said rolls having Y reservoirs into which said condui'tsdischarge I b and through which the grease enters the roll bearings on the inner sides of, the bearings; 1

there being grease'seals on the outer sides of the bearings; and grease introducin means at roll ends connected with the rol Y 15 axles at points between the ends of the roll and the adjacent roll bearings for introduc ing grease to" said conduits, including a V grease introducing ipe connected with said intermediate roll ax e and projecting lateral- 20 ly between adjacent roll ends to a readily acf cessible point; whereby the bearings may be maintained efficiently lubricated and rease may be supplied to the bearings of t e individual rolls while they are in position and 25 in operation. V V

14. A structure of the class described h'av-- ing, in combination, conveyer rolls arranged end to end with their axes relatively inclined one to another; the respective rolls 3 having axles and tapered roller bearings v mounted on said axles and onwhich the rolls revolve; said rolls embod ing bearing cases set inwardly from the en s of the rolls and in which said bearings are mounted, said 35 cases providing grease receptacles on the the inner sides of the bearings and having 1 bearing adjusting rings and grease seals on the outer sides of the bearings; the axles extending through said bearing cases and 40 supported at their ends in proximity to the ends of the rolls; grease introducing tubes for the respective rolls each connected with a roll axle outside a bearing case, including a tube projecting laterally between adjacent I 45 roll ends to an accessible point, and ducts in said axles in communication with said tubes for delivering grease to the grease receptacles at the inner sides of the bearing. 1

15. In a structure of the class described 50 the combination with conveyer rolls ar- 15 ranged closely adjacent end to end on rela tively inclined axes, said rolls having axles and antifriction bearings thereon set inwardly from the roll ends, of supporting 55 standards from which the rolls are remov- V ably supported by their axle ends, there being clearance between the roll ends and adjacent faces of the standards so that each roll can be lifted by movement at right 60 angles to its axis until its bottom is clear a of its supporting standards, and means for lubricating the rolls comprising greaseintroducing tubes connected to the roll axles each outside a bearing between it and the ad- 65 jacent supporting standard and ducts in the 

